Switch-proof ticket system and method

ABSTRACT

A switch-proof ticket system which includes a ticket for application to material, etc., and which is coupled to the material by a pin having a break groove or the like formed in a portion thereof. The pin is placed in the ticket such that the tip thereof is preferably bent around a hole in the ticket with the groove or the like in proximity with a bend line, e.g., a tear or crease line formed in a portion of the ticket. The tear or crease line helps provide the means to break the pin at the groove when the ticket and the pin are simultaneously bent and thus permits a purchaser of the material to remove the pin and ticket therefrom.

United States Patent Dudley et a1.

SWITCH-PROOF TICKET SYSTEM AND METHOD Inventors: John S. Dudley, Douglas; Ralph E.

Hollis, Southboro, both of Mass.

Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company,

Framingham, Mass.

Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 Appl. No.: 434,959

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 331,593, Feb. 12,

1973, abandoned.

US. Cl. 40/25; 40/2 R Int. Cl. G09F 3/12 Field of Search 40/2.2, 2, 20, 25;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 192L814 8/1933 Flood 40/25 R 2,854,719 10/1958 Davies..... 24/150 P 1854,77] 10/1958 Flood... 40/2 R 2,893,145 7/1959 Light 40/25 R Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExmninerWenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald Brown 5 7 ABSTRACT A switeh pro0f ticket system which includes a ticket for application to material, etc., and which is coupled to the material by a pin having a break groove or the like formed in a portion thereof. The pin is placed in the ticket such that the tip thereof is preferably bent around a hole in the ticket with the groove or the like in proximity with a bend line, e.g., a tear or crease line formed in a portion of the ticket. The tear or crease line helps provide the means to break the pin at the groove when the ticket and the pin are simultaneously bent and thus permits a purchaser of the material to remove the pin and ticket therefrom.

21 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures xae ezw FIGZ Bbb

U.S.Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet1of2 PRICE 4 22 SIZE 6 lOb FIGS

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,908,295

SWITCH-PROOF TICKET SYSTEM AND METHOD This application is a continuation-in-part of US. Patent application Ser. No. 331,593, filed on Feb. 12, 1973, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to a new and improved ticket security system to prevent the switching of tickets carrying printed information such as price from one piece of merchandise to another piece of merchandise.

Retail establishments such as clothing stores, discount stores constantly have problems with certain individuals that wish to purchase merchandise at less than the actual ticketed price. Such individuals have been known to remove tickets from one piece of lower cost clothing and switch it to a piece of higher price clothing so that they can purchase the clothing desired at a lower price. Although this problem has been encountered by retailers for many years, there still remains the need for an inexpensive and easily implementable security system to prevent ticket switching.

While no ticket security system is completely foolproof for the determined individual, the present inven tion provides a ticket security system which adds that much more of an impediment to make ticket switching most difficult without leaving telltale signs of ticket tempering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE In its broadest sense the present invention provides a new and improved security ticket-pin system which when coupled to material or the like as shown herein makes it most difficult to remove a ticket from material and switch it to another material without either destroying a portion of the material, bending the tip of the pin or breaking the pin. In addition, the purchaser of material after paying for the material may easily remove the ticket from the material by breaking the pin.

In the preferred embodiment the above is accomplished by using a pin having a break starting groove located about the shank diameter thereof near the pin head, a ticket having bend lines e.g., formed by a crease or one or more perforations and locating the pin such that the pin penetrates from one side of the ticket to the other side of the ticket and through the material so that the pin groove is in close proximity to the ticket bend line and the pin point passes through a hole in the ticket and is bent back towards the ticket bottom.

It is also preferred that the pin when bent include a pin withdrawal prevention means to prevent the withdrawal of the pin from the ticket by pulling the pin head.

In the most preferred embodiment the pin is bent back so that it includes a hook and shoulder adjacent the point of the pin and thus acts to prevent pin withdrawal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top or front view of a ticket of the system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom or rear view of the ticket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the pin of the system of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the groove in the pin of this invention;

FIG. 6 is aview illustrating the combination of the pin and ticket of the system coupled to material such as cloth;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing the pin breaking as a portion of the ticket is bent in a clockwise direction;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a ticket with a crease mark instead of the perforations shown in FIGS. l8;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the ticket of FIG. 9;

FIG. 1 1 is a side view of a further configuration of the pin showing another way the tip and the portion adjacent thereto may be bent while in the ticket;

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the now preferred construction of the pin after being bent to secure a ticket to merchandise;

FIGS. 13 and 14 show front and back views of the pin and ticket secured to merchandise; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line l5l5 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE Reference should now be had to FIGS. 18 for a detailed description of the disclosure. At 10 there is shown a ticket of a material such as cardboard, one or more thicknesses or plys of paper or the like, etc., conventionally used in the construction of tickets. As used herein a ticket is meant to define any material useful in making tickets so long as it is bendable. The material used for the ticket herein is also preferably stiff enough to permit easy application of printed matter thereto.

The ticket comprises a front or top 10a on which printed matter such as price, size, etc., (see FIG. 1) may be applied thereto. In the alternative, or in addition to the print, machine readable information may be encoded thereon for optical reading or magnetic reading, e.g., by applying to the ticket optically recognizable marks, magnetic material marks, or a magnetizable coating which may be applied to the ticket and then encoded.

The ticket also has a bottom, back or rear 10b and usually four edges 10c-l0f as shown, although the shape of the ticket may vary, although it is usually rectangular The ticket 10 is preferably provided with a hole 11 so that a pin 13 having a tip may easily pass therethrough as shown in FIG. 6 and as will more fully be described later herein.

At 12 the ticket is provided with a ticket bend indicator start line (or means) such as a line formed by one or more perforation(s) as shown in FIGS. 18, or a crease line 21 such as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, e.g. formed by a depression or by a marking made with ink, etc., to facilitate ticket bending by indicating where the ticket should be bent.

The line 12 preferably appears to the eye as a straight line no matter how formed, although it may be curved in some cases. The perforated bend indicator start line in FIGS. 1-8 is preferred since it provides additional security. Additional security is obtained because in the attempted removal of the pins to switch tickets, the land areas of the ticket between perforations would undoubtedly tear apart thus providing a further indication of ticket tampering.

The bend line is used to facilitate the bending of an edge of the ticket as shown in FIG. 8 in the direction of arrow 19 and helps to ensure that the pin shank will snap apart at the groove when the ticketed portion is rotated as will be more fully described below.

Preferably the bend line lies in or appears to form a straight line (imaginary or real) which is parallel to one edge, e.g., edge 10c of the ticket 10, although it may be at an angle to one or all of the edges. In order to simplify the explanation whenever the words bend line are used herein they are intended to be interpreted as covering one or more perforations (no matter what shape) or a crease line of their equivalent and whenever the term straight is added as used herein it is intended to be interpreted as having its ordinary meaning e.g., straight line.

The bend line 12 is preferably positioned in the topmost corner portion of the ticket formed by the intersection of two edges 10c and 10e and is preferably spaced adjacent to the edge 10c and is most preferably a distance of between one half to one-twelfth the ticket width W" away from the edge 10c.

Preferably the line 12 does not extend the entire length of the edge 100 to intersect edge 10f and is in practice most preferably between one-eighth to onehalf the length L of edge 10c.

The bend line also preferably makes a right angle with the shank 13b of the pin 13 as shown in FIG. 6 and may extend beyond the pin shank towards edge 10f when the pin 13 is inserted into the ticket. The pin 13 of the invention is more particularly shown in FIGS. 48 and comprises a head 130, a shank 13b and a tip or point 130 which is preferably blunt at its end. The tip or point 130 has a reduced cross section with respect to the cross section of the shank to facilitate driving of the pin into the ticket. The tip 13c is preferably tapered (more preferably is in the shape of a truncated cone) which terminates in a radius of curvature to prevent breakage or curl of the tip during driving of the pin into the ticket. 1

About the shank 13b and in close proximity to the head 13 is a break groove 13bb (see FIG. 5). The groove 131217 is preferably substantially U or V shaped and is of a depth to permit the pin shank to snap or break apart into two pieces when rotated with the ticket edge 100 while the remainder of the ticket and pin (i.e., the shank below groove 13bb) are held in place (see FIG. 8). The groove 13bb is preferably in practice positioned from the head a distance of between 0.4 to 0.10 L, where L is the shank length and is most preferably spaced a distance of between 0.3 and 0.15 1. from the head 13a.

The material of which the pin is constructed may vary and may be of metal such as a metal alloy or even of plastic in cases where the tip is not bent around as shown in FIG. 6, as long as the pin material is hard enough to be forced through the ticket and the material and brittle enough to break apart at the groove when bent as shown in FIG. 6.

In practice it is preferred that the pin have a hardness of 80 to 95 rockwell (B scale) and most preferably a hardness of 87 to 93 rockwell (B scale).

An example of a suitable pin for this application may be made from copper no. 270 Yellow Brass (65%) commonly referred to as ASTM B134 Alloy or referred to as AMS 4712 Alloy.

The composition of Copper Alloy No. 270 generally comprises 63.0 to 68.5% copper, 0.1% lead (maximum) 0.07% iron (maximum) zinc (remainder) and total of other elements 0.20% (maximum).

In practice for this application it is preferred that the pin shank have a diameter between 0.020 to 0.035 inches.

It should be understood that the groove need not extend about the entire shank (as shown and most preferred), and its shape will depend upon the material used the difficulty and expense in forming, etc., as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a V or U cut groove may be formed in the pin which begins at the shank top side wall and extends toward the opposite side of the shank without extending about the entire outside diameter of the pin as shown in FIG. 4.

Reference should now briefly be had to FIGS. 6 and 7 which shows the pin coupling the ticket 10 on material between points 16 and 17.

As shown, the pin shank 13b preferably enters and penetrates the ticket at 17 such that the groove 13bb thereof is positioned in substantial alignment with the line 13 so that the simultaneous bending of the ticket along line 12, the head 13a and the shank portion 13b (see FIG. 8) causes the shank portion 13b to break away from shank portion 13b at the groove l3bb.

The pin shank repenetrates through ticket 10 at point 16 after passing through the material e.g., cotton material, as shown. Thereafter in the preferred embodiment pin withdrawal prevention means is provided such as by bending the pin tip down through a hole preferably formed before hand, or even formed while passing the pin tip from top to bottom of the ticket. Thereafter the pin tip 130 is bent around (e.g., by use of a pliers) against the bottom surface of the ticket towards the shank to lock the pin in place. Thus the pin is prevented from being pulled out of the ticket and material and ticket now may be easily separated from each other and removed from the pin 13 by breaking the pin as shown in FIG. 8.

In practice, and because so many more people are right handed, the ticket is preferably provided with the bend line in at least a portion of the top right hand quadrant of the ticket facing the observer with the pin entering the top right hand quadrant of the ticket and then being redirected into the ticket as showns in FIGS. 1 and 6.

The bend line is also preferably substantially parallel to the vertical edges 10c and 10d (assuming one is holding the ticket and material in their left hand), and usually causes bending of the horizontal edge 10e when rotated to break the pin (see FIG. 8).

Reference should now be had to FIG. 11 which shows yet a further illustration of the pin provided with tion pin withdrawal prevention means. In this embodiment as well as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12-15, like numbers are used to designate like parts.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pin 13 is shaped (e.g., by

bending with a pliers) so that it has a shoulder 13ee preferably at an acute angle with respect to said shank and a hook or loop 13:: adjacent the tip 130.

The loop or hook is preferably of a circular shape although other shapes are suitable. The shoulder 13ee is preferably formed prior to forming the loop 13e and prior to passing the loop and tip 13:: through the ticket, e.g., through the hole 11.

Shoulder 1322 provides an additional security advantage in that it makes it even more difficult to withdraw the pin 13 through the holes 16 and 17 without breaking it. In addition, the provision of the shoulder 1322 prior to forming the hook permits, if desired, the pin tip to be more easily bent and then aligned substantially flat or parallel to the ticket bottom. The pin 13 is also preferably bent at 13f to aid in directing the pin tip 136 through the hole 11.

Reference should now be had to FIGS. 12-15 which show the preferred pin construction having the most preferred pin withdrawal prevention means. In these Figs, FIG. 11 shows the pin shaped but isolated from the ticket and FIGS. 12-15 illustrate the pin attaching and securing a ticket to material 15, e.g., cloth.

The pin withdrawal prevention means shown in FIGS. 12-15 is that shown in FIG. 11 except that the tip 13c is bent towards the ticket bottom and preferably also towards the shoulder 132e, e.g., by a pliers.

More particularly the tip 130 is preferably driven or bent into the surface of the ticket so that the point of the tip is preferably buried in the ticket (below the surface) as shown in FIG. 15.

The bending of the tip 130 as shown in FIGS. 12-15 provides further advantages in that it locks the pin 13 in place and thus prevents easy withdrawal thereof. In addition, when the pin tip 136 is also buried as preferably shown in FIG. 15, catching of the material 15 on the tip 130 is prevented.

It should be understood that the pin configuration may be changed to prevent pin withdrawal; for example, other pin withdrawal means may be provided such as the pin tip may be crimped without being bent towards the pin head (U crimp) above or below the ticket, a barb or bulge on the pin, e.g., on the shank or tip may be used, the pin may be adhesively held by the ticket, the pin tip may be bent towards the pin head or shank after penetrating through point 16 (see FIG. 6) above the ticket. Accordingly, it is intended that this invention cover any pin withdrawal prevention means for preventing pin withdrawal from the ticket (e.g., beyond point 16 or 17) by pulling the pin head, although it should be understood that the preferred schemes for preventing pin withdrawal are shown in the Figs.

We claim:

1. In a switch-proof ticket system a ticket having a bend line to facilitate bending of a portion of the ticket with respect to the remainder of the ticket and a pin penetrable through the ticket and having a tip, a shank and a head, said pin having a break groove in a portion of the shank, and said pin is positioned in the ticket so that it first penetrates one side and extends beyond the opposite side and then repenetrates the opposite side of the ticket and extends beyond the one side of the ticket with the break groove positioned in substantial alignment with the break line so that when a portion of the ticket on one side of the bend line is rotated, relative to the remainder of the ticket, a portion of the pin rotates therewith and breaks into two parts at the groove.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the pin also repenetrates the one side of the ticket and extends beyond the opposite side of the ticket.

3. A system. according to claim 2 in which the pin tip is bent back towards the pin head.

4. A system according to claim 3 in which the tip is bent towards the opposite side of the ticket.

5. A system according to claim 4 in which the ticket is provided with a hole through which the pin repenetrates through said one side.

6. A system according to claim 4 in which the ticket material is held by pin against the material between the points where the pin first penetrates said one side of said ticket adjacent to the pin head and then repenetrates through the opposite side of the ticket.

7. A system according to claim 3 in which the break groove is positioned a distance of between 0.4 to 0.1 L, from the pin head where L, is the shank length.

8. A system according to claim 7 in which the groove is around the circumference of the shank and extends into the shank interior.

9. A system according to claim 2 in which said ticket has a hole.

10. A system according to claim 1 in which said ticket comprises a layer of bendable material having a top, bottom a plurality of edges and a bend line closely adjacent an edge.

1 l. A system according to claim 10 in which the bend line is substantially parallel to one of said edges.

12. A system according to claim 10in which the bend line is only in a top quadrant of the ticket.

13. A system according to claim 12 in which the bend line is substantially parallel to one of said edges forming the top quadrant.

14. A system according to claim 1 in which the ticket is paper.

15. A system according to claim 1 in which the pin penetrates the ticket in at least two points and wherein the break groove is in substantial alignment with the ticket break line.

16. A system according to claim 15 in which the pin is provided with pin withdrawal prevention means to prevent withdrawal of the pin from the ticket by pulling the pin head.

17. A system according to claim 15 in which the pin penetrates the ticket at a third point, said pin having pin withdrawal prevention means extending through the third point of penetration.

18. A system according to claim 17 in which pin withdrawal prevention means comprises a shoulder extending away from one side of the ticket prior to the remainder of the pin withdrawal prevention means extending through said third point of penetration.

19. A system according to claim 17 in which said tip is bent toward said ticket.

20. A system according to claim 19 in which said tip extends into the surface of the ticket.

21. The ticket of claim 1 in which the bend line is a perforated line. 

1. In a switch-proof ticket system a ticket having a bend line to facilitate bending of a portion of the ticket with respect to the remainder of the ticket and a pin penetrable through the ticket and having a tip, a shank and a head, said pin having a break groove in a portion of the shank, and said pin is positioned in the ticket so that it first penetrates one side and extends beyond the opposite side and then repenetrates the opposite side of the ticket and extends beyond the one side of the ticket with the break groove positioned in substantial alignment with the break line so that when a portion of the ticket on one side of the bend line is rotated, relative to the remainder of the ticket, a portion of the pin rotates therewith and breaks into two parts at the groove.
 2. A system according to claim 1 in which the pin also repenetrates the one side of the ticket and extends beyond the opposite side of the ticket.
 3. A system according to claim 2 in which the pin tip is bent back towards the pin head.
 4. A system according to claim 3 in which the tip is bent towards the opposite side of the ticket.
 5. A system according to claim 4 in which the ticket is provided with a hole through which the pin repenetrates through said one side.
 6. A system according to claim 4 in which the ticket material is held by pin against the material between the points where the pin first penetrates said one side of said ticket adjacent to the pin head and then repenetrates through the opposite side of the ticket.
 7. A system according to claim 3 in which the break groove is positioned a distance of between 0.4 to 0.1 Ls from the pin head where Ls is the shank length.
 8. A system according to claim 7 in which the groove is around the circumference of the shank and extends into the shank interior.
 9. A system according to claim 2 in which said ticket has a hole.
 10. A system according to claim 1 in which said ticket comprises a layer of bendable material having a top, bottom a plurality of edges and a bend line closely adjacent an edge.
 11. A system according to claim 10 in which the bend line is substantially parallel to one of said edges.
 12. A system according to claim 10 in which the bend line is only in a top quadrant of the ticket.
 13. A system according to claim 12 in which the bend line is substantially parallel to one of said edges forming the top quadrant.
 14. A system according to claim 1 in which the ticket is paper.
 15. A system according to claim 1 in which the pin penetrates the ticket in at least two points and wherein the break groove is in substantial alignment with the ticket break line.
 16. A system according to claim 15 in which the pin is provided with pin withdrawal prevention means to prevent withdrawal of the pin from the ticket by pulling the pin head.
 17. A system according to claim 15 in which the pin pEnetrates the ticket at a third point, said pin having pin withdrawal prevention means extending through the third point of penetration.
 18. A system according to claim 17 in which pin withdrawal prevention means comprises a shoulder extending away from one side of the ticket prior to the remainder of the pin withdrawal prevention means extending through said third point of penetration.
 19. A system according to claim 17 in which said tip is bent toward said ticket.
 20. A system according to claim 19 in which said tip extends into the surface of the ticket.
 21. The ticket of claim 1 in which the bend line is a perforated line. 